Ana Skinner

I just got home yesterday (December 23rd). Surgery was December 20th, a leak test was done December 21st and I was required to pass gas before they would even consider sending me home. The hospital stay consisted of walking, walking, and more walking, and when I finally fell asleep, the nurses would come in to take vitals. I rarely had a 2 hour block of rest. There is constant beeping and other distractions that also get in the way of rest. So, finally getting to go home yesterday was nice but I was thankful for the 2.5 days I did spend in the hospital because by the time I was released, I felt very confident that I was ready to be on my own. Sending me home sooner would've ended up in an E.R. visit because I didn't understand my need to manage my pain. My suggestion: be vocal about your concerns now. No reason to go into a surgery with even more fear than you normally would have. Read up on managing your pain and for the first few days, have a good support system on hand that will remind you to walk regularly and that will make sure you get the right amount of meds, food, etc.